A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
The UCE building will be closed until further notice.
We will continue to offer ways to connect virtually.
A virtual service will be held at 11:15 am this Sunday
“An Adaptive Response to a VUCA World” – In this increasingly V.U.C.A. World – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous – we are called by our faith to adapt and respond with courage and resilience. This current reality invites us to more fully live our mission and to make the world whole, and serves as a powerful reminder that wholeness is co-created by our nurtured and nurturing spirits.

From now on, we encourage you to submit your joys and sorrows ahead of time to this online form . We will read aloud in the service, those that are submitted by 11 a.m. on Sunday. If you are unable to access the google form for some reason, you may send an email to Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Karen Mooney , however, it is easier for us to keep track through the google form. We continue to celebrate and mourn together through this important ritual and appreciate your understanding as we explore the various ways to hold what is on your hearts. 

This Sunday's shared offering recipient is The Poor People's Campaign ( Click here to learn more ). Your offering can be given through Text-to-Give, online , or
mailed to the office with "Shared Offering" in the memo line.
Other Virtual Gatherings this Sunday
Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9:30 am via Zoom
Email Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  or Joyce Lofstrom at  joycelofstrom@gmail.com  for details.

Forum Discussion: "We are not in the same boat" at 10 am via Zoom
More info in "What's happening in Lifespan Religious Education"
UCE Annual Meeting at 12:30 pm via Zoom
Members have received a link to this meeting in their email.
If you are not a member and would like to attend the annual meeting,
please contact the office at admin@ucevanston.org.

High School Youth Gathering at 7 pm via Zoom
Look for an email from the advisors with info on how to join. 
Important News and Upcoming Events
All Church Zoom gatherings continue on Wednesday at 5:30 pm.
Look out for the link in our Wednesday e-mails. If you need online Zoom support before the All Church gathering begins, join us at 5:20 pm.
UCE and the Restore Illinois Plan
Dear Beloved Community,
We hope that you are taking care of your minds, bodies, and spirits, and that you and your loved ones are well. There are many ways to feel about life in the time of COVID-19, and you may go through twelve of those feelings before getting out of bed in the morning. You may feel grateful for the time you have with family, that you still have a job, or that you are healthy. You may feel trapped, lost, alone, fearful about the future. You might appreciate the way things have slowed down and provided an opportunity to learn new things or tackle long set aside projects. You may feel grief, anger, or despair about the way the virus is disparately impacting the poor and communities of color. All of these feelings are understandable. There is much to grieve and much to cherish in this moment. Together, we can practice holding the multitude of experiences with compassion for ourselves and one another. You are not alone...
From Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director
I am pleased to announce that we were approved for a PPP loan in the amount of $72,012, which could be forgiven. This will not change the budget for 2020/21 as most of the payroll expenditures will be made for personnel from May 8 when the funds were deposited into our checking account through July 3 which completes the 8-week time frame we must follow.  
 
I met this morning with CJ Presto, Accountant/former UCE Treasurer, and Vickie Doebele, UCE Staff Accountant, to document steps that are required for possible forgiveness of the loan. We are carefully following the CARES Act guidelines. If the loan is forgiven, this help stabilize our financial position, hopefully preventing us from reducing salaries, requiring furloughs or making layoffs. If reopening is greatly delayed our 2020/21 budgeted amounts for our fundraisers and rentals will not be met and will result in not meeting our planned budgeted income. Loan forgiveness is essential to help us overcome this loss.  
Dear UCE Member - From your Board President, Martha Holman
Our annual congregational meeting will be held this Sunday May 17th at 12:30pm . Due to the COVID 19 shelter-in-place order, we will be holding our meeting virtually for the first time. If you have been a member since before February 17th of this year, PLEASE REGISTER by filling out this form by the end of the day today! A link to the meeting will be sent on the morning of May 17th to all who register.

If you cannot attend a virtual meeting (don’t have a computer or a smart phone or cannot figure out Zoom) but you are an eligible member, please contact the office for special assistance: admin@ucevanston.org or call 847-864-1330. We will connect you with a phone buddy for the meeting – we want every member to be able to participate!

If you don’t know if you’re an eligible member, please contact the office at admin@ucevanston.org .
Virtual Flower Communion Request for Flowers
This year, our annual ritual of bringing flowers and sharing in their beauty will need to be virtual. Over the next several weeks, look for flowers around your home or neighborhood. Take some photos and send us your favorite one or two.


Or email your photos to the office at admin@ucevanston.org .
John LaPlante Virtual Memorial Service
A Virtual Memorial Service for John LaPlante will be held on Saturday, June 20th at 2pm . The service will be YouTube Livestreamed as our Sunday services are, and we will have a Zoom reception following with a link provided during the service.
It's not too late to fill out the Interim Progress Survey!
Rev. Karen Gustafson and the Transitions Team invites the congregation to take the Interim Progress Survey. Thank you to those that have already filled out the survey!

 The integrity of the UCE profile will depend on the care UCE takes to know and reflect who you are. This survey will take ten to fifteen minutes of your time – a ten to fifteen minute investment in the future of UCE. Thank you for your help and trust in the process!
Your financial support is so appreciated!
Please help us ensure your contribution is credited appropriately by indicating on the memo line of your check if it is for 19/20 Pledge, 20/21 Pledge, Shared Offering or a Donation. 
If you are texting to give, s end a text message to  312-584-9160  with the amount you would like to contribute and  the code  for where you would like it to go (e.g., 50 OFFERING ). Valid codes are OFFERING (Shared Offering),   PLEDGE  (Pledge Payment),  CAP  (Capital Campaign), or MUSIC (music fund). If you do not include a code before your donation amount, the system will automatically select PLEDGE. To learn more,  click here . If you experience any issues, contact Adam at  agough@ucevanston.org .

During these times when we are working from home we are trying to make trips to the church and our accounting tasks manageable for our Staff Accountant, Vickie Doebele. We respectfully request when you make a shared offering donation please do not ask for 100% to go to the organization. This truly would be helpful. We appreciate your understanding. 
Many Hands Make Our New Kitchen Complete
Karen Courtright has been busy during the quarantine sewing 14 new butcher aprons for the kitchen. Here she is smiling and ready to cook in our new kitchen.
The new serving tables arrived and Robb Geiger aided by Brian Nielsen put them together. They are gleaming white with chrome legs. They will offer a versatile serving area—they are wide so we can have two serving lines if necessary, and, also have room in the center for additional food. Thanks to Robb and his tool box and Brian for helping us get ready. 

Meanwhile Carol and Brian continue to unpack and organize the kitchen putting each item in its logical, convenient place so that when we return all will be ready to go. 

Check out the link below for Illinois Food Handling Certification. The online course takes about 90 minutes. When you pass the exam you will be qualified to work in the UCE kitchen. We encourage everyone who will work in the new kitchen to do this so that we can comply with safe food handling at such time we are able to serve food again. 

If you have questions about the kitchen, please contact Carol Nielsen.
Hats Off to Martha Holman!
Our Hats are off to Martha Holman for so many reasons, not the least of which is her steadfast and capable leadership through challenging and uncertain times. Martha has chaired the Board of Trustees through unanticipated changes in ministry, while co-chairing a successful capital campaign. She helped with our pledge drive, supports the Racial Equity Action & Leadership (REAL) team, which she co-founded, and she has been a reassuring presence during this pandemic, modeling and encouraging an openness to learning. In addition to all of that, she is always a caring presence - whether baking brownies, calling members and friends, fostering relationships, or demonstrating a deep commitment to justice. Martha is so wise, pragmatic, caring, and dedicated to this community. Thank you for all you do and for who you are.
Join the Chicagoland Plant Swap Online
UCE will be closed this year for the annual plant swap, but no need to stress! Join the Chicagoland Online Preswap that has been going on for 10 years now. Check out the link below of gardeners requesting/giving plants of all sorts. All swaps must be made online before hand. You are welcome to exchange and personally deliver your goodies to each other or utilize the tree mail exchange through the site. Doug and Ellen Erickson will also be coordinating a drop off and pick up location in Skokie at the Skokie Gardon Plots Parking Lot this Saturday May 16 at noon-2 pm. There will NOT be tables for browsing. Please do not bring anything that is not prearranged for pickup.

Ellen and Doug Erickson want to thank the UCE community, so they will be offering tomatoes, sweet peppers, and possibly other veggies for curbside/front porch pick up at our house as the weather permits. They will have best from last year's varieties, large pink/ red, dark, yellow as well as cherries tomatoes. It is a joy to see people come back year after year with their cooperation and sharing that foster community and acceptance at UCE.
Chicago Area UU Council Spring Video Conference
Join us on Saturday, May 23 @ 9:30 am to noon for the conference, "Building Lifelong UUs: Creating Communities to Support Life Transitions and Maintain Connections." Presenters include: Rev. Stevie Carmody (left), the Emerging Adult Ministry Associate from the UUA’s Lifespan Faith Engagement Office. He works to support young adult leaders. Tom MacTavish (right) is co-creator (with Gloria Kinney) of a group at Countryside UU called “Transitions,” which provides a forum for mature adults to explore life transitions, such as that from professional work to retirement.
Conference attendees will also hear from young adult and senior adult panelists, following the presentations, to help shed light on changing needs for both social and spiritual community with other UUs as life transitions take place. We’re hoping to learn what congregations are already doing and what they could be doing to support communities of young adults and elder adults to foster lifelong participation in Unitarian Universalism. The Chicago Area UU Council Annual Meeting will follow the conference.
Grief and Loss Support
What can you do to ease the pain of the losses you feel? Shakespeare wrote: “Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.” The “over wrought heart” – the heart that feels too much pain to bear, breaks. So Shakespeare would recommend that we talk about our sorrow, talk about our loss. When we let ourselves really feel how much the loss hurts and talk about that loss and pain to other people, it can ease our hearts. You are welcome to join Ellen Rieger LCPC CADC and Rev. Karen Mooney for 4 sessions on Tuesdays @ 5:30 - 7 pm: 5/12, 5/26, 6/9, 6/23.


Meeting ID: 858 8718 3997
Password: 262644
One tap mobile  +13126266799,,85887183997# US (Chicago) 
Social Justice & Volunteer Opportunities
"A Secret Love" Film Screening
The Rainbow Alliance is hosting the screening of "A Secret Love", a film about a Chicago lesbian couple's 60-year love affair.  Saturday May 23 at 6:30 pm , you can join our Netflix Viewing Party where the film's playback is synchronized and there is a chatbox or watch on your own then join us at 8 pm for an after-viewing Zoom chat to talk about the film. Send a note to AllenderChristine@gmail.com if you don't have a Netflix subscription and we will get a sign-on to you. Join us in celebrating this personal story of love and family and coming out after 60 years.
Netflix Viewing Party
Download Netflix Party Extension to your Chrome Browser at https://www.netflixparty.com/ .  Click here & NP icon on your Chrome Browser Extension toolbar.

Zoom After-Viewing Zoom Chat 
Click here to join the Zoom chat. Dial in at +13126266799,,81198741883#,,1#,259887#
Manual Dial In By Phone:+13126266799; Meeting ID: 811 9874 1883, Password: 259887
Looking for ways to take action from home?
Even though we are living through a pandemic, UCE social action work continues. Here are some ways to act in this time of COVID-19:

  • Join the community of Sojourners: Tell Congress to Ensure Free, Fair, and Safe Elections. Click here to sign on.
  • Join All on the Line: We need safe elections. Voting will look different this November. We need elected officials to support initiatives that keep elections safe, fair, and accessible -- otherwise, voters will be forced to choose between their health and their vote. Click here to sign on.
  • Join Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson by adding your name to fight for safe and fair elections With the threat of COVID-19 looming over the November election, Congress must act to ensure every American has the ability to cast their ballot safely and without unnecessary risk. Tell your elected officials to expand access to vote-by-mail, early voting, and online voter registration.
  • It is more important than ever to get deeply connected with members of the Poor People’s Campaign. Folks are having an amazing time talking with people all over the country about June 20th, the critical moment we are in as a nation, and our demands as a campaign. Sign up to get trained, then hit the phones with other phone bankers! Here is an overview of the campaign.
  • Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race against hate. Whether you race every year or have never stepped foot on our lakefront course, we need you this year more than ever. Be a Race Hero. Click here to donate.
  • Inspired by the #ShareMyCheck campaign (a project of Resource Generation), we are asking Unitarian Universalists: If you are among this group of us who have access to more security and stability in this crisis, will you commit your stimulus check (or an equivalent or greater amount) to Freedom organizations today?  
  • Donate to food for kids that are at home due to stay at home order. Click here to donate.
Please contact these organizations to ensure you know current guidelines for dropping off any donations. Respectfully we do not have the expertise to make such recommendations and we realize that these are likely changing continually in response to new understandings around the novel coronavirus.   

If you know of ways fellow UUs can continue to participate in social action that are not included in this list, please reach out to Rev. Karen Mooney at  kmooney@ucevanston.org . Thank you all for continuing to live UCE's mission! Let us know how you are showing up in the world .
Interfaith Action of Evanston Needs Your Help!

Interfaith Action of Evanston has been considering ways to collect and distribute necessary household items that are not covered by federal benefits, such as soap, toilet paper and toothpaste. If you would like to help, please visit the Amazon Wish List  to see the items they are in need of most. They appreciate your help. 
Chalice House Seeking Volunteers
UCE has joined a coalition headed by Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist to convert a residence owned by that congregation, Chalice House, into transitional housing for immigrant families and individuals seeking asylum. The Immigration Solidarity Team greatly appreciates the Endowment Committee’s generous allocation or $1,800 to support this effort. 

Chalice House is seeking volunteers to rip up carpeting, paint, arrange window treatments, and make repairs. If you would like to contribute your skills, teams of up to 3 from a single household, working in intervals with three-day separations, will be scheduled through ChaliceHouse@CCUU.org . 

If you would like to donate to the household (mostly materials, such as detergent or sheets), you may sign up below.
Calling all Defenders of Democracy!
Yikes! Less than 175 days before the November Election! UCE Vote Love is gearing up for lots of activities in the next 175 days!
Here’s some of what’s coming:
· Sending 6000 postcards to get out the vote in Wisconsin
· Get Out The Vote Zoom Parties
· Facebook postings about voting activities you can join
· Voter registration and voting by mail information

Our country needs every one of us to be involved! There is a place for you and a task you can do. Look for announcements with details of different actions and activities each week in the newsletter as well as Facebook groups.

Together we will bend that arc of justice and see our government living our UU values. Your Vote Love team: MaryBeth Napier, Donna Shiller, and Shirley Adams
What's Happening in Lifespan Religious Education
This Sunday in Religious Education
This Sunday in Religious Education
As I sit and write this, the sun is shining outside of my “office” window and my crabapple tree is finally in full bloom. It is the one thing I look most forward to each spring along with the migrating birds. The bright white flowers against the beautiful azure sky lifts my spirits so! I hope that you are able to see some of nature’s beauty outside your abode too.

This week we explore the theme of Thresholds using the metaphor a door to shelter. This week’s VirtUUal RE session on the homepage of UCE’s website, ucevanston.org . Your family can do this together at your own convenience any time during the week. You can read the session here or watch the video here .
 
I’d love to hear from you about how your family would like to connect with UCE friends this summer and see what ideas they offer. Encourage creativity and think outside the box! Shoot me an email at kunderwood@ucevanston.org and let me know what comes up in your brainstorming.   
 
Did you see Rev. Eileen’s storytelling video? Watch it here . If you would like to record yourself reading or telling a story that would be shared on our Facebook page and in our newsletter, let Kathy know. It would be wonderful to have a whole collection!

For middle school youth , learn about the Baha’I faith here .

High school youth can join a special youth Worship Without Walls Friday evening by registering here . And you can connect Sunday evening at 7 pm on Zoom. Look for an email from the advisors later in the week with info on how to join.
 
Of course, we also have our virtual worship service on Sunday mornings at 11:15 am. I continue to post ideas on the UCE Children and Youth Facebook page, along with some interactive things to share, so look for that as well.  

In Faith,
Kathy
Forum Discussion: "We are not in the same boat"
This week’s Forum will explore how existing health disparities among underserved populations has created a racial disparity in the communities who are most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will be led by Dr. Mildred Williamson, Executive Director at The Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center.  The CORE Center is part of the Cook County health system and Dr. Williamson has an esteemed career serving diverse clients in Cook County Health, including extensive experience in research.
The discussion will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 10:00 am via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting.
Upcoming Events


T he nonfiction book group will meet virtually using Zoom on Sunday, May 31 at 2 pm . Join us to discuss Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration by Emily Bazelon.
Family Fun and Resources for May's Theme, Thresholds
Click here for ways to connect as a family to our faith!
"Rooted, Inspired, Ready" General Assembly Goes Virtual!
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). This year it will be 100% virtual! Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through the democratic process. Naomi Klein is this year’s WARE Lecturer. She is a climate activist, an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal.

See full details on GA here and a video here . Anyone may attend. Check out the UCE scholarships below!
Calling all Youth!
Have you ever wanted to experience General Assembly? Every June, UUs from all over gather to vote on issues that matter, learn new things at a variety of workshops, enjoy inspiring and rocking worship services, and hang out with other UU youth.
UU Summer Camp Opportunities for all ages
Midwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Assembly (MUUSA) is an intergenerational camp experience for fun, fellowship, and personal growth. This year's theme is “To Breathe on Purpose” with guest Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout. Enjoy nature, an art fair, a 5K walk/run, music, and more! Learn more here.

Chalice Sparx Family Camp & Retreat for Unitarian Universalist Families is an amazing all-ages experience at lovely Camp Friedenswald in southwestern Michigan-only 90 miles from Chicago. At Chalice Sparx camp and retreat for families you will experience a truly multigenerational community. There are no camp counselors here to whisk away the children separate from their families. Here we learn together, worship together and explore together in a community of all ages – including elders who complete our multigenerational village. We also have fun together. Swimming, hiking or riding a wagon through the trails, canoeing, archery, popcorn popped in a kettle over an open fire, and of course, S’mores and singing camp songs. Learn more here.
Welcome to Our Community
Interested in knowing more about UCE? Scroll down for info on ongoing programs and useful information. Can't find your answers here? Click the button below to learn more on our website.
How to get in touch with UCE's Ministers
UCE ministers are available throughout the week by appointment. If you are in need of pastoral care or someone to talk to, please reach out to them by email.
We are here for you.
Rev. Eileen Wiviott - ewiviott@ucevanston.org
Rev. Karen Gustafson - kgustafson@ucevanston.org
Rev. Karen Mooney - kmooney@ucevanston.org
Pathways to Membership
There are currently no membership classes scheduled. If you would like to take part in a future class, p lease email Adam Gough at   agough@ucevanston.org. We're excited to offer our first (and maybe only) on-line membership joining ceremony on This Sunday, May 17th ! Click here for more information about membership classes .
Offer to Provide Technical Support
Physical separation is leading many of us to find new ways of forming and maintaining virtual connections through the internet. The UCE staff and Board of Trustees wants to make sure that no one is isolated because they lack access to technology or technical skills.

So if you would like assistance please reach out to: 

We will be happy to work with you to make sure that you get the most out of your membership experience using the latest tools.
Opportunities For Virtual Connection
Learn Spanish Group
Mondays at 7 pm
For more information, click here.

UCE Men's Group
1st & 3rd Mondays at 7 pm via conference call.
For more information, click here.

Caregiver Support Group
Tuesdays at 7 pm via Zoom.
E-mail Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  or Joyce Lofstrom at  joycelofstrom@gmail.com  for details.

Grief and Loss Support
Tuesdays @ 5:30 - 7 pm via Zoom: 5/12, 5/26, 6/9, 6/23.
See more information above.

Udumbara Zen Sangha
Tuesday Evenings and Saturday Mornings
For more information email udumbara@udumbarazen.org .

Wednesdays at 9:30 am   (Virtual 8x8 Meeting)
For more information, click here.

Buddhist Meditation 
E-mail Andrea DeMers at ademers99@gmail.com for the link.

UCE Addictions and Recovery
Form more information about the group, click here.

Virtual Art and Spirituality
Every other Saturday at 2:30 pm (next meeting is May 9)
For more information, click here.

Chris Isely Cancer Support Group
Sundays at 9:30 am via Zoom
E-mail Renee Hoff at  rdhoff99@yahoo.com  for details.

Staff are available to help with setting up virtual meetings and getting the word out to the congregation. For more information on how to set up a digital meeting, click the button below. Email Jessica Meis at admin@ucevanston.org to add your event to UCE's calendar and to submit an article about your virtual meeting to the newsletter.
Beware scam e-mails and texts from those posing as UCE ministers
Please do not respond to the e-mail or text scam that is going out with Rev. Eileen's name. The subject line may say MANY BLESSINGS or some other greeting and they ask for a favor or gift cards. If you respond to the message they will ask you to buy gift cards for someone in need. UCE ministers will never ask you for money in an e-mail or for you to send gift cards to anyone. Check the e-mail address and phone number it is coming from. If it is not Eileen's or another minister's, it is a scam. Most of you have gotten wise to these scams. They will keep coming nonetheless. Thank you to those who let us know they received this scam.

This is someone who is using Eileen's name with a generated email address and phone number. They haven't hacked her personal accounts. The e-mail addresses she will send from will be either  ewiviott@hotmail.com  or  ewiviott@ucevanston.org . If you are unsure about the number texting you, please call the office.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of every month.
The next virtual meeting is on May 21 at 7:00 pm.

Questions for the board? Email BOT@ucevanston.org.
UCE Facebook Groups
Did you know that, in addition to the  UCE Facebook Page , there are three UCE groups that members can join - the  UCE Member to Member Group , the  UCE Children and Youth Religious Education Group, and the  UCE Social Action Group ?  

These are closed groups that allow members to post directly to each other. If you have an event you want members to know about, or have a cause you hope to bring attention to, in addition to the newsletter and order of service, you can post to the Facebook Group. Click the links below or search for the groups by name when you are on Facebook and ask to join.
Quick Links